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Police to be armed with stun guns Police to be armed with stun guns
(40 minutes later)
About 30,000 police officers across all forces in England and Wales are to be trained to use Taser stun guns.About 30,000 police officers across all forces in England and Wales are to be trained to use Taser stun guns.
Currently, only specialist firearms officers carry the weapon, which can temporarily disable a suspect.Currently, only specialist firearms officers carry the weapon, which can temporarily disable a suspect.
But ministers will announce plans later to buy 10,000 more Tasers and extend their use to all frontline officers. Now the government has announced plans to buy 10,000 more Tasers and extend their use to all frontline officers.
The Home Office says Tasers have helped to resolve incidents without injury, but Amnesty International is warning against using them routinely. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said police needed tools to protect themselves and the public. Amnesty International is warning against using Tasers routinely.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith told the Sunday Times newspaper she wanted to give the police the tools they said they needed "to confront dangerous people". Ms Smith said: "I am proud that we have one of the few police services around the world that do not regularly carry firearms and I want to keep it that way.
"But every day the police put themselves in danger to protect us, the public.
"They deserve our support, so I want to give the police the tools they tell me they need to confront dangerous people.
"That is why I am giving the police 10,000 Tasers to ensure that officers across the country benefit from this form of defence."
Electric shockElectric shock
Experts say Tasers are a less dangerous alternative to conventional firearms.Experts say Tasers are a less dangerous alternative to conventional firearms.
Police shoot two barbed darts trailing wires from a special gun, which then delivers a powerful electric shock, temporarily incapacitating the suspect.Police shoot two barbed darts trailing wires from a special gun, which then delivers a powerful electric shock, temporarily incapacitating the suspect.
'I've been Tasered 200 times'Sharp shock to deal with violence'I've been Tasered 200 times'Sharp shock to deal with violence
Officers in England and Wales have fired the 50,000-volt stun guns more than 1,000 times since 2004.Officers in England and Wales have fired the 50,000-volt stun guns more than 1,000 times since 2004.
Now the Home Office is understood to be about to unveil plans to spend £8m on 10,000 new Tasers. The Home Office plans to spend £8m on 10,000 new Tasers.
It follows a year-long pilot scheme which saw their use extended to frontline officers in 10 police forces.It follows a year-long pilot scheme which saw their use extended to frontline officers in 10 police forces.
All officers issued with Tasers will need to attend an 18-hour training course, spread over two to three days, as well as an annual "refresher" course to keep them up to date with develoments.
Alan Campbell, the Home Office minister responsible for crime reduction, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the government had taken independent medical advice and that Tasers were "low risk".Alan Campbell, the Home Office minister responsible for crime reduction, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the government had taken independent medical advice and that Tasers were "low risk".
He said: "They're used under very strict circumstances and there are very clear guidelines.He said: "They're used under very strict circumstances and there are very clear guidelines.
"Last year they were only used on 93 occasions out of the more than 600 that they were deployed. We don't expect them to be used as a weapon of choice routinely."Last year they were only used on 93 occasions out of the more than 600 that they were deployed. We don't expect them to be used as a weapon of choice routinely.
"I am sure one of the intentions is to make sure we don't need to use guns as often.""I am sure one of the intentions is to make sure we don't need to use guns as often."
The move has been welcomed by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO). The decision to extend the use of Tasers has been welcomed by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and by the Police Federation of England and Wales, which represents rank-and-file officers.
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Police use a Taser stun gun to apprehend a manPolice use a Taser stun gun to apprehend a man
It said trials showed in the majority of cases Tasers helped police resolve incidents without resorting to a weapon. ACPO's spokesman, and the assistant chief constable of Northamptonshire Police, Derek Talbot, said trials showed in the majority of cases Tasers helped police resolve incidents without resorting to a weapon.
Simon Reed, vice chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, which represents rank-and-file officers, told BBC Radio 5Live that officers dealing with violent incidents would benefit from the devices. Paul McKeever, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, which represents rank-and-file officers, said the move recognised the "vital role" the weapons played in the fight against crime.
He said: "During the trial, which was for specially trained officers - and I stress not firearms officers, but normal patrol officers - the Tasers were drawn on 600-odd occasions and only actually discharged on 93 occasions. He said Tasers were an "effective and "less lethal alternative" to firearms.
"So it shows how measured and proportionate the use of that device was.
"And it was for very serious violence or threats of violence."
But Oliver Sprague, of Amnesty International UK, told the BBC's Today programme the organisation's research indicated more than 320 people had died in the US since 2001 after they were "Tasered".But Oliver Sprague, of Amnesty International UK, told the BBC's Today programme the organisation's research indicated more than 320 people had died in the US since 2001 after they were "Tasered".
He said the human rights organisation was especially concerned about the welfare of vulnerable people who had "emotional" problems or were under the influence of drugs. Ministers say they "do not recognise" Amnesty's fatality figures.
Mr Sprague said Amnesty was especially concerned about the welfare of vulnerable people who had "emotional" problems or were under the influence of drugs.
Registered trainingRegistered training
He said: "Amnesty is not opposed to the use of Tasers but they should be limited."He said: "Amnesty is not opposed to the use of Tasers but they should be limited."
Describing the plans to extend the use of Tasers as "extreme", he said: "No matter how intensive the training is, the officers will only have had two days' worth."Describing the plans to extend the use of Tasers as "extreme", he said: "No matter how intensive the training is, the officers will only have had two days' worth."
He called on the home secretary to review the decision and restrict the use of Tasers to a small number of fully-trained officers. He called on the home secretary to review her decision and restrict the use of Tasers to a small number of fully-trained officers.
HAVE YOUR SAY I'd rather the police were armed with taser stun guns than actual guns and ammunitionJeff Mason, UK Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY I'd rather the police were armed with taser stun guns than actual guns and ammunitionJeff Mason, UK Send us your comments
But Mr Campbell said he did not recognise Amnesty's figures on the number of deaths attributable to the use of Tasers.
He said all police officers using the devices would receive the correct training.
This consisted of an ACPO-registered 18-hour training course, spread over two to three days.
The content of the course would depend on their needs and they would have to have an annual refresher, he said.
Lib Dem MP Lembit Opik told Radio 5live he did not believe the weapons should be made available to ordinary officers.Lib Dem MP Lembit Opik told Radio 5live he did not believe the weapons should be made available to ordinary officers.
"We're talking about increasing the firepower of the police in a way that I think brutalises the entire service," he said."We're talking about increasing the firepower of the police in a way that I think brutalises the entire service," he said.